NEWS YOU CAN’T MISS

Dementia Is More Than Memory Loss

One of the most heartbreaking consequences of dementia is losing your footing in daily life.

Globally, more than 55M people live with dementia. Long before full-time care is needed, many begin to struggle with everyday tasks - remembering names, following routines, or feeling confident enough to leave the house.

The impact goes beyond memory: people with dementia are 8 times more likely to fall than other adults. Many end up withdrawing from daily life because of a loss in confidence and others around them becoming overly protective.

That’s the problem a new pair of AI glasses is trying to address. Developed by British tech company Animorph Co-operative, the glasses use an AI that acts as a “gentle anchor” for people with dementia:

• The glasses can recognize people and objects, offering subtle prompts such as a relative’s name or step-by-step guidance through simple tasks.

• An AI companion called Wispy provides reminders for appointments, tracks daily routines, and checks in emotionally - helping users stay oriented without feeling micro-managed.

• 3 in 4 people with dementia who tried the glasses showed meaningful improvement after using just once.

For users like Rosalind Tranter, a retired dentist living with dementia, the tech has helped her stay in her own home - and eased the fear of becoming a burden on her family. ❤️

(Source: Ben Spencer for The Times)

Being Offline Is the New Flex

Saying “I don’t have Instagram” used to sound odd. In 2026, it lands more like a humble brag.

From phone-free club nights in London to luxury spas that confiscate your devices, being offline is starting to signal status. Posting your holiday, checking Stories, or needing a forced digital detox now feels a bit… déclassé. 🧐

Even celebrities are leaning in: musician Camila Cabello recently told her 60M followers she wanted to delete social media altogether, while other influencers admit they envy people who can simply disappear.

Some are calling it digital privilege: the ability to log off without losing your job, relevance, or social life. Not being reachable, it turns out, might be the most expensive lifestyle upgrade of all.

(Source: Joe Bromley for The Standard)

Meet Dr. Lea Sonderegger, CDIO at Swarovski

Celebrating this week’s Woman in Tech 🥳: Meet Dr. Lea Sonderegger, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Swarovski - the 130-year-old jewellery brand worn everywhere from red carpets to everyday life.

Dr. Sondereggeris earned a PhD from the University of Vienna, where her research focused on how people shop across physical and digital channels. She began her career at Swarovski over a decade ago, at a time when digital marketing was still a side project for brands.

She quietly reshaped how the company works - building Swarovski’s global e-commerce business, expanding in major markets like the US and China, and connecting stores, online shopping, and supply chains so they finally worked as one system.

That work paid off: today, most Swarovski customers shop on mobile, can buy online and pick up in store, or order from a local boutique and get same-day delivery. Digital isn’t an add-on, it’s how the business runs.

When Lea stepped into the combined CDIO role in 2022, she also took on the less visible, technical side. Her team introduced AI to speed up customer service, improve demand planning, and personalise marketing - cutting response times by more than 50%.

Under this digital reset, Swarovski returned to revenue growth and its first fully positive operating profit in 5 years - a rare turnaround for a heritage luxury brand. 💎